Bangalore Houzz: A Sunny Home Packed With Space-Enhancing Ideas
Clever design tricks, greenery, soft tones & well-thought-out areas give this home designed by Weespaces a special flair
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their child
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka
Year built: 2017
Size: 250 square metres (2700 square feet); 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Interior designer and decorator: Vinithra Amarnathan, founder and principal designer, Weespaces
The clients wanted a home that was clean, modern and filled with break-out areas that let nature and views in. Also, a design that hinged on ‘less is more’. Designer Vinithra Amarnathan of Weespaces was more than happy to take up this project, since it was already a “bright home that received ample natural light, had a great open floor plan and a clean, modern structure. Add to that very discerning clients who were willing to take design risks,” she says.
Photos by Parth Swaminath
Who lives here: A couple and their child
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka
Year built: 2017
Size: 250 square metres (2700 square feet); 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Interior designer and decorator: Vinithra Amarnathan, founder and principal designer, Weespaces
The clients wanted a home that was clean, modern and filled with break-out areas that let nature and views in. Also, a design that hinged on ‘less is more’. Designer Vinithra Amarnathan of Weespaces was more than happy to take up this project, since it was already a “bright home that received ample natural light, had a great open floor plan and a clean, modern structure. Add to that very discerning clients who were willing to take design risks,” she says.
Photos by Parth Swaminath
The entrance to the home is marked by a narrow passageway – the hall leads to the dining and living room, the kitchen and the staircase to the master bedroom and family room. “We wanted to make the most of the narrow hallway. We used a large brass-framed mirror with a sharp and slim matte black ledge below to hold small items. The ceiling has a beautiful perforated metal pendant light in silver and the play of mixed metals adds a lot of interest to this little spot,” says Amarnathan.
Past the entrance, the empty space under the staircase has been converted into a bar area. The white cabinets merge into the walls, saving the unit from looking bulky. “The bar utilises the dead space and doubles as a spot for entertaining. We used a large part of the area to create a bar and the rest of it to provide closed storage for shoes and other entryway essentials. One of my favourite elements here is the shiplap walls that set the bar area apart. It’s lined with pinewood, which adds a whole lot of warmth and texture to the space. We used gold hardware here,” Amarnathan says.
Browse through images of narrow hallways
Browse through images of narrow hallways
The double-height living room opens up views to the outdoors, and helps ample sunlight stream into the room. “The custom-made furniture is modern and clean. The navy-blue sofa packs a punch in spite of being compact. The custom armchairs are sleek, with bentwood arms upholstered in neutral light-grey linen. A round solid-wood coffee table adds weight and grounds the space, offering a contrast to the whites and the gold. We added neutral ivory curtains that bring in light. The rug is one of my favourite pieces – it has subtle hints of colour with shades of blue, light beige and grey, and a bohemian touch that relaxes the entire space and brings in that easy casual chic vibe,” says Amarnathan.
Paint: Crystal Peak by Asian Paints
Paint: Crystal Peak by Asian Paints
The natural wood rafters on the ceiling and the white brick walls lend warmth and an inviting feeling to the room. “The space is complemented by a custom-made light fixture of hanging gold pendants,” Amarnathan says.
See how wooden ceiling beams make a statement
See how wooden ceiling beams make a statement
The living room opens out to a small, cosy outdoor space enhanced with furniture, plants and lights. “A chandelier with hanging chains is used to amplify the double-height ceiling here,” she says.
“Given it’s a tight spot, we decided to add an oversized mirror on one side. This mirror is framed in recycled wood, giving the space a rustic chic feel, perfect for the outdoors,” says Amarnathan.
In this open-plan space, the dark wall helps define the dining area. “We kept the lower half panelled white for contrast. This modern take on wainscoting adds much interest to the small space. The natural wood of the dining table and bench inject an organic feel, while the sharp black chairs add a modern contrast. We kept all the colours neutral and there is a textural play of all the elements, from the metal candle stands, to the jute runner, to the wood bowl. The space is complemented by a peony print that adds a punch of colour and a hint of a feminine touch to this otherwise neutral space,” explains Amarnathan.
Paint: Ice Grey by Asian Paints; dining table & chairs: Asian Arts Furniture
Paint: Ice Grey by Asian Paints; dining table & chairs: Asian Arts Furniture
The kitchen is a sleek space, enhanced with white quartz countertops and black cabinets. “We felt the place lacked storage, so we added a sleek pantry unit in steel grey and added gold pendants over the island. A set of natural wood bar stools stand out perfectly, adding warmth to the black and white space,” she says.
Check out this guide to buying kitchen bar stools
Check out this guide to buying kitchen bar stools
On the ground floor is a guest bedroom, a soothing, white space. “We chose a solid wood bed in medium teak finish with a simple clean headboard and added a decoupage cabinet on one side, which brings both colour and pattern to the space. The rest of the space is open and houses a modern white wardrobe that stands out against the warm wood. The wall lights are a modern take on the Indian jali or Moroccan lattice patterns, letting light to come through when lit,” Amarnathan says.
Furnishings: Kilol, The Wishing Chair
Furnishings: Kilol, The Wishing Chair
The staircase runs along white walls, where a black railing adds contrast. A gallery of family photos line the stairway wall. “Behind the staircase was a large wall that we wanted to convert into a feature wall. I found a beautiful suzani runner and got it framed and hung on the wall and it makes for such a bold statement,” Amarnathan says.
The landing area upstairs is made into a large, open family room, separated from the staircase by a glass partition.
In one corner of the room is a play area, enhanced with a tent, a custom chalkboard frame on the wall and a small table with stools for all those arts-and-crafts afternoons.
Looking for professionals to design your home?
Looking for professionals to design your home?
The master bedroom has a cool, soothing scheme, where dark tones are offset with light furnishings. “The colour palette is predominantly grey and blue, with sprinkling of blush. The upholstered bed is custom made with a hand-embroidered fabric in shades of blue, anchored by a charcoal seagrass wallpaper,” Amarnathan says.
The corner wardrobes are made in chestnut veneer. “This was a challenging and tight spot to design. The leftover space was too narrow and I thought a wraparound corner mirror would be a great way to maximise the space. The mirror is framed in a slim brass profile and is another of my favourite features in this house,” Amarnathan concludes.
Read more:
Pune Houzz: This Luxe Penthouse is a Bungalow in the Sky
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Pune Houzz: This Luxe Penthouse is a Bungalow in the Sky
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
